Jillian Cheryl Richardson-Briscoe (born March 10, 1965, in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago) is a Canadian athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres. She is a three-time Olympian.[1] In 1988, she equalled Marita Payne's Canadian 400 metres record of 49.91 secs. The record (as of 2022) still stands. She was inducted into the Athletics Canada Hall of Fame in 2017.[2]
Richardson won a gold medal at the 1982 Commonwealth Games as a member of the 4 x 400 meter relay team. She repeated that feat at the 1986 Commonwealth Games, as well as winning a silver in the 400 meters. She was a member of the 4 x 400 metre relay that took a silver medal in the 1983 Pan American Games. She won a silver in the 400 meters at the 1987 Pan American Games, and as part of the Canadian 4 x 400 meter relay team. She took a gold medal in the 400 metres and a silver medal in the 4 x 400 metre relay at the 1989 Francophone Games.
She competed for Canada at three Olympic Games. At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, she won the silver medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay with her team mates Charmaine Crooks, Molly Killingbeck and Marita Payne. At the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, she was eliminated in the 400 metres semi-finals, running 49.91. It was the first time someone had broken 50 seconds and failed to reach the final. Canada failed to finish the 4 × 400 m relay final due to an injury to Molly Killingbeck. At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, she finished fifth in the 400 m final, in 49.93 and fourth in the 4 × 400 m relay final.
Achievements
Three-time Canadian Champion - 400 m (1987) 200 m (1988, 1989)
Canadian 400m record holder - 49.91 in 1988 (shared with Marita Payne)
* Distances have varied as follows: 440 yards (1959–1986), 400 meters (1987–date) alternating with 300 meters in odd numbered years starting 2015. The 1958 race was run as an exhibition.
